How to Photograph Polar Bears in One of the Most Extreme Places on Earth

Two polar bears, a mother and her cub, clamber over the sea ice with the pink winter sky glowing behind them. “These are the moments I live for,” says nature photographer Joshua Holko.

High in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, Holko is on a mission to document polar bears in the wild. Braving the elements for up to 16 hours a day, he is joined on his quest by cinematographers Abraham Joffe and Dom West of Untitled Film Works. Despite technical issues and frostbite due to the subzero temperatures, the crew persisted in the depths of winter to capture the haunting beauty of this frozen expanse.

In Ghosts of the Arctic, get up close to polar bears in their natural habitat and experience the breathtaking Arctic landscape in stunning detail.

The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the world and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.

How to Photograph Polar Bears in One of the Most Extreme Places on Earth

Two polar bears, a mother and her cub, clamber over the sea ice with the pink winter sky glowing behind them. “These are the moments I live for,” says nature photographer Joshua Holko.

High in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, Holko is on a mission to document polar bears in the wild. Braving the elements for up to 16 hours a day, he is joined on his quest by cinematographers Abraham Joffe and Dom West of Untitled Film Works. Despite technical issues and frostbite due to the subzero temperatures, the crew persisted in the depths of winter to capture the haunting beauty of this frozen expanse.

In Ghosts of the Arctic, get up close to polar bears in their natural habitat and experience the breathtaking Arctic landscape in stunning detail.

The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the world and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.